Posting the video online, the man, who has not been identified, said: "I have a theory that it was a meteorite.

Dramatic footage capture mystery EXPLOSIONS. Was it a meteorite, fighter jet... or even a UFO (Photo: NEWSFLARE/Dexter)

"If it had been a land-based explosion there would be damage somewhere but so far no damage.'

"It was too loud to be a firework that's for sure and fireworks don't shake houses. I don't think it's a supersonic aircraft as a sonic boom does not give off light.

"I think it was a meteorite burning up in the atmosphere. This would give off light and cause a sonic boom."

But a spokesman for the Royal Observatory at the Royal Museum of Greenwich denied the claims.

They told the MailOnline : "This doesn't have the character of a meteor, since such a blast would only occur after a sustained bright light during atmospheric entry - not a quick flash as shown in the video.

"It's also somewhat unlikely that three blasts would be heard. It looks and sounds a little bit more like a firework."

People living in the area said they thought the noises could have been caused by a fighter jet or even a UFO.

One person wrote on Twitter: "Just heard three loud booms, like an explosion here in East London. Anyone know anything?"

But the Ministry of Defence said it was unaware of the noise but would be looking into it while the Metropolitan Police said it had received calls about the incident but would not be investigating.